Michael Creed
Ceist:30 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will provide substantial additional funding to Cork County Council to repair regional roads damaged in the recent floods. [29356/00]
Written Answers. - Roads Funding.
Michael Creed
Ceist:271 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make additional funds available to local authorities to repair storm damaged roads; if so, if he will seek a report from Cork County Council regarding roads (details supplied) damaged by flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29333/00]
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:299 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when compensation will be provided for local authorities who fund remedial works required by the impact of recent flooding on roads and bridges throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29636/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 271 and 299 together.
Cork County Council has been allocated non-national road grants of £23.295 million in 2000 compared to initial allocations of £21.746 million in 1999 and £15.8 million in 1997.
It is responsible, out of the above funding in addition to its own resources, for the maintenance and improvement of non-national roads and bridges in its area.
In principle, the very considerable funds available to local authorities for non-national road maintenance and improvement are designed to cover contingencies arising from flooding, storm damage and other severe weather conditions. My Department's Memorandum on Grants for Non-National Roads provides that the cost of such remedial works must be met from these resources and that local authorities should set aside contingency sums to finance such works. Local authorities are reminded of this requirement each year.
My Department will consider sympathetically any request from a county council to adjust their current multi-annual restoration programme so as to prioritise works necessitated by flood damage to particular roads.
I will announce the 2001 non-national road grant allocations early next year and significant funding will be again provided to local authorities to assist in further improving the non-national road network.